Placing a ladder on uneven or soft ground: You should only place a ladder on firm and level ground, as neglecting to do so increases the risk of tipping as you climb to the top. If you want to enhance your safety, ask someone to hold the ladder as you climb.

Missing the last step: You’re climbing down a ladder and you know you’re close to the ground. However, instead of exercising caution, you miss the last step (or steps). Depending on how high you are, this could lead you to hit the ground with great force.

Overreaching: A common mistake that many people make, especially those who are not using the right size ladder for the job. When you overreach, you increase the likelihood of your ladder tipping.

Neglecting to maintain three points of contact: Climbing a ladder is dangerous, so you need to keep in close contact with it at all times. You should always maintain three points of contact, which is two feet and one hand or two hands and one foot. Doing this helps you maintain control and stability.